Sheffield United 1 - 4 Watford
Noelinho has not long returned from watching the mighty Hornets stuff the Blades at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United's home ground, in a match shown of Sky Sports tonight. Watford controlled most of the match, opening the scoring after 6 minutes. United's David Unsworth was sent off on 25 minutes for an elbow, and for a while tempers frayed.
However, Watford scored again straight after the break, on 47 minutes. United pulled one back near the hour, but two further goals gave the now 3rd placed Watford victory over the team 1 place above them in the table - and away from home too. This was Sheffield United's biggest loss of the season.
However, great though the result was, Noelinho has a couple of bones to pick with the way Sheffield United's staff handled the match. Firstly, the matter of digital photography.
Now, I don't know about you, but I don't think I've ever had any trouble taking digital photography at a sports venue - except if you go to a snooker match, perhaps. If I go to see Watford play at Vicarage Road, I take pictures. No-one moans. However, the Sheffield United stewards don't seem to like it. I was first told that 'flash photography is not allowed'. To save miscommunication, I repeated this back to the steward in question in a questioning tone, to which he replied:
"Flash photography is not allowed, just turn your flash off".
Fine, I thought. Fair enough, I'll turn my flash off. Not a problem - I'll simply take my pictures without flash. A fair assumption. After all, if photography generally is not allowed, the steward would phrase it like so. Well, apparently not. Five minutes later he returns.
"I told you you can't take pictures".
"No, you told me I can't use flash photography, not that I can't take pictures."
"Well, that's what I meant."
He walked off as, I pointed out in a rather abrupt manner that he should say what he means. After all, I can't read his mind. For goodness sake, it's like seeing someone driving on the left-hand side of the road, so don't drive on that side of the road, whilst actually meaning that you can't drive on the road at all. Hopefully he learnt his lesson - he certainly gave me a glare, I think I embarrassed him in front of large number of people in the stand. There is also no mention to the prohibition of such technology on the ticket at all. How am I meant to know if such things are not advertised?
Secondly, the allocation of tickets. Tonight was a "student night". Students were allocated tickets in their own section of the ground. According to the back of the ticket, these seats are in a stand for "visiting supporters only". Fairly conclusive - no home fans then, right?
Well, being a Watford fan, I wear my Watford shirt and scarf, and hand over my ticket, where I am dutifully informed that "you can't wear that". Well, why not, it's the away end, after all! Apparently, I'm sitting with Sheffield United fans. I point out the following:
- The ticket states I am in the away end;
- The ticket states that it is for students;
- The ticket does not state that students with student tickets have to support Sheffield United;
- Not every student is going to support Sheffield United just because they get given a cheap ticket;
- Some students do actually support Watford, strange though it may seem.
But no, I'm not allowed in with my scarf on as I may "get lynched". Well, perhaps I should have a security guard then, or maybe the savage home fans should be barred from the stadium? In the end, I simply took off my scarf, went through the turnstiles, and put it right back on in front of the ticket collector. If it is my safety that is in danger, rather than me posing a danger to others' safety, it's not me who should be restricted in this way.
There are currently 5 comments on this article.
Nick the blade'It's got one of the best atmospheres in the Premisership' Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaah! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
2007-02-20 15:55:30
bum boy
fuck you wanker your mum is a man and watford are all gay hobos
2007-01-21 14:54:34
Noelinho
http://www.noelinho.org
Firstly, Greg, the Blades didn't stuff Watford. Watford played badly, the Blades weren't much better - unlike tonight, where they played some good second half football against Villa - unlike the Ballboy by the away end who slid on his arse retrieving the ball! Secondly, so what if Watford's ground doesn't have a 35,000 capacity? It's got one of the best atmospheres in the Premisership - something larger grounds simply can't emulate. Let's also remember, Watford have a big screen; neither the Blades, nor the Owls, have a big screen in their ground - a slight omission for a Premiership standard ground, methinks. Thirdly, read my post before you comment. If you had, you'd realise that the problem was that the whole end was advertised as being reserved for away supporters, not one particular tier. Why not sit with the Watford fans on the bottom tier? Well, the back of the ticket indicated I would be with Watford fans, and why pay £18, when you can pay just £5? Economics, my dear Watson. We'll make a detective out of you yet, my son. Finally, on standing up, or sitting down, at football games. Are you really a football fan? If you were, you'd realise that sitting down is compulsory at Premiership games, and clubs are liable to hefty fines if they fail to comply. Manchester United were complaining about it a couple of seasons ago. It's all about health and safety. Something about Hillsborough. No, not sure what that's about.
2006-12-12 02:35:06
Greg
Glad you enjoyed your one off victory, but while pointing out a few problems with bramhall lane i would like to point out a few problems with vicarage road, as i went their to watch the mighty blades stuff watford in a 6 point premiership match the other week in which "Super Danny Webber" got the goal, firstly, what a sorry disgrace of a premiership ground! secondly if you look on the back of the tickets it will state that Sheffield United have the right to revoke tickets, their for simple rules, like wearing away colours in the home end should be fairly simple, the away part of the ground is in fact underneath where you were sat, been such a huge fan...why not sit with them....there we're loads of empty seats.....oh and it doesnt mention anywhere on my watford ticket that i must sit down all game, but the mucky southerner steward said i had too.........
2006-12-11 14:29:37
mr boro!
hey noal i live bishops storford herts and im going to the watford boro game on the 4th with a few others coming down from boro i dont want look like a mug in front of my mates and was just wondering were the best and freindly pubs are in watford!? is there a train service that runs from stevenage to watford? cheers mr boro
2006-10-16 19:06:49